ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS

RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTIVITY

REQUIREMENTS

PUBLICATION DATE: 16/08/2021

VERSION: 1.4
NEXT PLANNED UPDATE: 14/01/2022

Contact Details
The Gold Standard Foundation
Chemin de Balexert 7-9
1219 Châtelaine
International Environment House 2
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 788 70 80
Email: [email protected]

SUMMARY

This document provides necessary guidelines and requirements for Renewable Energy
activities seeking certification of the project design and/or to issue Gold Standard
Certified Impact Statements and Products for example; GSVERs.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY ___________________________________________________________________1
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. 2
1| SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY ___________________________________________________3
1.1 | General Applicability ............................................................................. 3
2| ELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES ____________________________________________________3
3| GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA _______________________________________________7
3.1 | Types of project: .................................................................................. 7
3.2 | Location of project: ............................................................................... 8
3.3 | Project area, boundary and scale: ........................................................... 8
3.4 | Suppressed demand.............................................................................. 9
3.5 | Stacking ............................................................................................. 9
4| ELIGIBILITY PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS ___________________________________9
4.1 | Principle 1 – Contribution to Climate Security & Sustainable Development .....10
4.2 | Principle 2 – Safeguarding Principles .......................................................10
4.3 | Principle 3 – Stakeholder Inclusivity ........................................................10
4.4 | Principle 4 – Demonstration of Real Outcomes ..........................................10
4.5 | Principle 5 – Financial Additionality & Ongoing Financial Need ......................10
ANNEX A – ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SPECIFIC PROJECT TYPES ___________12
1| TECHNOLOGY SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA __________________________________12
1.1 | Hydropower project activity ...................................................................12
1.2 | Project activity using biomass resources ..................................................14
1.3 | Project activity using Biogas (landfill gas and biogas from agro-processing,
wastewater and other residues) ......................................................................16
1.4 | Project activity using Waster Heat/Gas recovery .......................................16
1.5 | Fossil co-generation .............................................................................17
1.6 | Waste incineration and gasification .........................................................17
1.7 | Waste handling and disposal ..................................................................19

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1| SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY

1.1 | General Applicability
1.1.1 | This Requirements document, hereafter ”the RE Activity Requirements”,
provides necessary guidelines and requirements for Renewable Energy
activities seeking certification of the project design and/or to issue Gold
Standard Certified Impact Statements and Products.
1.1.2 | The RE Activity Requirements document is designed to be read in conjunction
with the Principles & Requirements, and associated documents including Gold
Standard Approved Methodologies and Product Requirements such as GHG
Emissions Reductions & Sequestration Product Requirements and Renewable
Energy Label Product Requirements.
1.1.3 | To maintain the integrity of the standard, Gold Standard reserves the right to
issue updates and changes, clarifications or corrections to its requirements.
Typically, this will involve a notice period and guidance will be provided on
how to apply the new rules and requirements. Likewise, the Gold Standard
reserves the right to require additional information and evidence to be
supplied by the Project Developer and Validation/Verification Body.

2| ELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES

2.1.1 | All Renewable Energy Projects for which Gold Standard certification is being
sought shall fulfil the requirements as set out in this document and those
referenced or associated documents.
2.1.2 | In order to be eligible for Gold standard certification, all Renewable Energy
Projects, shall meet the following Eligibility Criteria:
a. Projects shall generate and deliver energy services (e.g., mechanical
work/electricity/heat) from non-fossil fuel and renewable energy sources.
b. Projects shall comprise of renewable energy generation units, such as solar
photovoltaic, tidal/wave, wind, hydro, geothermal, waste to energy and
renewable biomass, that are:
• Supplying energy to a national or a regional grid; OR
• Supplying energy to an identified consumer facility via national/regional
grid through a contractual agreement such as wheeling.

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c. Any Project supplying electricity to a mini-grid1 shall refer to Community

Services Activity Requirements.
d. Projects generating on-site energy for captive consumption at an industrial
facility shall refer to the requirements in this document.
2.1.3 | New Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions (GS VER) or Gold Standard
labels for Certified Emission Reductions (GS CER), Renewable Energy projects
connected to national or a regional electricity grid2 must be located in either
a;
a. Least Developed Country (LDC), Small Island Developing State (SIDS)
or a Land Locked Developing Country (LLDC)3 or
b. Low Income and Low Middle-income country where the penetration
level of the proposed Renewable Energy Technology type is less than
5%4 of the total grid installed capacity, at the time of the first
submission to preliminary review
Renewable Energy projects connected to national or a regional electricity grid
are ineligible for GS VERs/CERs, if located in:
- an Upper Middle-Income Country or High-Income Country5 or
- SIDS and LLDC, defined as a High- Income Country6
2.1.4 | Grid Connected off-shore wind projects and waste to energy projects that
involve utilization of landfill gas/biogas to electricity generation with or

1
A mini-grid is defined as power system with a total capacity not
exceeding 15 MW (i.e. the sum of installed capacities of all generators
connected to the mini-grid is equal to or less than 15 MW) which is not
connected to a national or a regional grid.

2
Renewable Energy project supplying electricity to mini-grid are
exempted from this eligibility requirements and shall follow Gold Standard
Community Services Activity Requirements for GS-VER or GS-CER
projects.

3
Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries,
Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States <
https://www.un.org/ohrlls/>

4
The penetration rate is the ratio of installed capacity of proposed
renewable technology in the grid to total installed capacity of the grid in
the host country or region. The 5% threshold will be periodically reviewed
and updated, potentially with specific tools and approaches for different
technologies/regions in future.
5
Refer to the latest country classification by income available at
https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519

6
ibid

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without thermal energy production are exempted from eligibility requirement

outlined in paragraph 2.1.3 |above.
2.1.5 | The eligibility7 requirement outlined in paragraph 2.1.3 |above is effective
from 24 Jan 2020. This requirement is applicable in case of projects and
PoAs as follows;
a. Projects submitted for preliminary review after 24 Jan 2020 shall
demonstrate compliance with the requirements of paragraph 2.1.3 |.
b. PoAs registered before 24th Jan 2020:
i. A registered PoA can include new VPAs/CPAs until the next renewal
of the PoA following the approved inclusion criteria as per the
registered PoA Design Document (i.e., previous RE eligibility rules).
At the time of next PoA renewal, the inclusion criteria for new
VPAs/CPAs must be updated in line with the paragraph 2.1.3
|above.
ii. Any new VPAs/CPAs included as per the previous rules can continue
till the end of their respective maximum allowed crediting period.
iii. Registered PoAs that have inclusion criteria as per previous eligibility
rules cannot extend PoA boundary to include new countries or
expand the scope to include new renewable technology types until
next PoA renewal.
iv. Registered PoAs that have inclusion criteria in line with paragraph
2.1.3 |above can extend the PoA boundary to include new countries
or expand the scope to include new renewable technology types.
c. PoAs validated and/or listed before 24 Jan 2020
i. Validated and /or listed PoAs submitting request for registration
after 24 October 20208 shall define the VPAs/CPAs inclusion criteria
in line with the new RE activity requirements, paragraph 2.1.3
|above.
d. New PoAs listed after 24 October 2020
i. PoAs submitted for preliminary review after 24 October 2019, shall
define the VPAs/CPAs inclusion criteria in line with the new RE
activity requirements, paragraph 2.1.3 |above.
e. Projects/PoAs seeking transition to Gold Standard

7
This outcome only affects the eligibility of projects issuing GS VERs or
GS CERs, projects applying other pathways (for example Gold Standard
Renewable Energy Labels) are not affected.

8
The relevant rule update was released on 17/01/2020, available here.

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i. Projects/PoAs seeking transition from another carbon crediting

scheme to GS4GG or labelling of emission reductions under GS4GG
are exempted from eligibility requirements of paragraph 2.1.3
|above if the projects/POAs started their first crediting period with
the original carbon crediting scheme from 01/01/2016 or later but
before 24/01/2020.
ii. PoAs seeking transition9 from another carbon crediting scheme to
GS4GG or labelling of emission reductions under GS4GG are
exempted from eligibility requirements of paragraph 2.1.3 |above.
At the time of submission to Gold Standard, PoAs seeking transition
shall update the inclusion criteria for new CPAs in line with the
paragraph 2.1.3 |above. CPAs that started their first crediting period
with the original carbon crediting scheme from 01/01/2016 or later
but before 24/01/2020 are exempted from the eligibility
requirements of paragraph 2.1.3 |above.
2.1.6 | Where exceptional circumstances exist, a project may seek an exception to
paragraph 2.1.3 | above. This include cases when a project serves
impoverished beneficiaries at preferential electricity rates or the project is
located in a conflict zone 10, or penetration of proposed project technology
type is not a common practice 11 in the relevant region of the host country.
Exceptional circumstances will be judged on a case by case basis and are
entirely at the discretion of Gold Standard. If exceptional circumstance exists;
a. A request for exception approval should be submitted before submitting
the project for preliminary review.
b. The project developer shall submit a deviation request describing the
exceptional circumstances that are relevant to the proposed activities,
accompanied, at a minimum, with an Investment Analysis to demonstrate
the financial additionality. The developer shall follow the latest version of
CDM methodology tool “Methodological tool: Investment analysis” to
demonstrate financial additionality as per the CDM Requirements. The
review process may include independent expert analysis, paid for by the
Project Developer but reimbursable against fees for first issuance (not

9
The relevant rule update was released on 13/05/2020, available here.

10
It refers to the conflict zones - as no-go areas for investment purpose,
which might affect the decision making considering the long-term risk to
the investment.

11
The latest version of CDM methodology tool “Common practice” with
applicable adjustments to include projects considered carbon revenue
shall be applied to demonstrate the exceptional circumstances i.e., the
project activity is not “common practice” in the relevant region of the host
country.

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reimbursable in the event of an unsuccessful application for exceptional

circumstances). Penetration level significantly higher than the 5%
benchmark, when proposed as an exception, are unlikely to be approved.
c. Projects must still demonstrate additionality at the time of design
certification.
2.1.7 | An exception to paragraph 2.13 is pre-approved for distributed installations of
renewable technologies, as outlined below;
a. Grid connected Renewable Energy projects/ VPAs that involve distributed
installation of Renewable technology, where individual unit size is up to a
maximum 500 kW of installed capacity, are eligible for the issuance of GS-
VERs or GS-CERs.
b. Projects/ VPAs must be submitted to Gold Standard for preliminary review
on or before 31/12/2023.
c. Projects/ VPAs must still demonstrate additionality at the time of design
certification or inclusion, as applicable.
2.1.8 | Additional eligibility criteria for specific Renewable Energy project technologies
like Hydropower, projects using biomass resources, biogas, waste heat/gas
recovery, fossil co-generation, waste incineration and gas, and waste handling
and disposal etc., are prescribed in Annex A.
2.1.9 | Projects seeking to issue of both Renewable Energy Labels and GS VERs shall
meet the applicable requirements of:
a. Applied Impact Quantification Methodologies for Emissions Reductions
b. GHG Emissions Reductions & Sequestration Product Requirements
c. Renewable Energy Label Product Requirements

3| GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

3.1 | Types of project:

3.1.1 | Eligible projects shall include physical action/implementation on the ground.

Pre-identified eligible project types are mentioned in the paragraph 2| above.

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3.2 | Location of project:

3.2.1 | Eligible projects may be located in any part of the world. Hydropower projects
shall not be located in High Conservation Values (HCVs)12 areas. Please refer
to Annex A for further information on hydropower projects.

3.3 | Project area, boundary and scale:

3.3.1 | Project Area and Boundary shall be defined in line with the applicable
Methodologies and Product Requirements.
3.3.2 | The following scale categories are applied to RE activities:
a. Microscale
i. RE project issuing less than or equal to 10,000 GS VERs
ii. RE project seeking any product other than GS VERs with an installed
capacity less than equal to 2 MWelectricity / 6 MWthermal

b. For the purpose of applying GS approved methodologies for quantification

of GS VERs/CERs, ‘small scale’ is defined as per the indicated type, as
follows;
i. Renewable energy Project with a maximum output capacity of 15 MW
(or an appropriate equivalent). In this context:
a. “Output” is the installed/rated capacity as indicated by the
manufacturer of the equipment or plant, irrespective of the
actual load factor of the plant. The installed/rated capacity of
renewable electricity generating units that involve turbine
generator systems shall be based on the installed/rated capacity
of the generator;
b. Regarding the “appropriate equivalent” of 15 MW, the project
developer may refer to MW(p) 13, MW(e) or MW(th). As MW(e) is
the most common denomination, MW is defined as MW(e), and
otherwise an appropriate conversion factor shall be applied;
c. For biomass, biofuel and biogas project activities, the maximal
limit of 15 MW(e) is equivalent to a 45 MW thermal output of
the equipment or the plant (e.g. boilers). For thermal
applications of biomass, biofuels or biogas (e.g. cookstoves),
the limit of 45 MW(th) is the installed/rated capacity of the
thermal application equipment or device(s) (e.g. biogas stoves).
For electrical or mechanical applications, the limit of a 15 MW
installed/rated output shall be used. In the case of co-firing
renewable and fossil fuels, the rated capacity of the system
when using fossil fuel shall apply;

12
Refer to High Conservation Value Resource Network for definition of
High Conservation Value Area. Available at https://hcvnetwork.org/
13
For solar photovoltaic applications, 15 MW(p) may be defined by
manufacturers’ specifications under testing conditions of 1000 W/m2 and
25 deg C or 600 W/m2 and 35 deg C.

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d. For thermal applications of solar energy project activities,

“maximum output” shall be calculated using a conversion factor
of 700 W(th)/m2 of aperture area of glazed flat plate or
evacuated tubular collector, that is, the eligibility limit in terms
of aperture area is 64,000 m2 of the collector.20 The project
participants may also use other conversion factors determined
as per the requirements in paragraph 73 above, but shall then
justify why the chosen conversion factor is more appropriate to
the project activity;
ii. End-use energy efficiency improvement project activities that reduce
energy consumption, on the supply side, with a maximum energy
saving of 60 GWh per year (or an appropriate equivalent) in any year
of the crediting period. In this context, for project activities that
improve thermal energy efficiency, the maximum energy saving of 60
GWh(e) per year is equivalent to 180 GWh(th) per year saving
iii. Other project types not included in Renewable and End use energy
project types that result in GHG emission reductions not exceeding
60,000 tCO2eq per annum in any year of the crediting period.

3.4 | Suppressed demand

3.4.1 | Certain Impact Quantification methodologies allow projects to account for a

Suppressed Demand scenario when establishing a baseline. In such cases, the
application of the Suppressed Demand baseline is limited to small scale and
microscale projects.

3.5 | Stacking

3.5.1 | A single Renewable Energy project may potentially pursue any number and
combination of Certified Impact Statements or Products. However, certain
Product Requirements, which supersede the generic requirements stated in
this document can set restrictions on co-issuance of Certified Impact
statements or Products. For instance, GS VERs or GS CERs with REC labels
cannot be claimed for the same MWh.
3.5.2 | Where a Suppressed Demand baseline is applied, it is not allowed to ‘stack’
Gold Standard Certified Impact Statements or Products as the definition of the
baseline may be contradictory.

4| ELIGIBILITY PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS

This section describes the additional requirements and/or deviations from the
Principles & Requirements. Renewable Energy projects seeking Gold Standard
certification shall meet these additional requirements.

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4.1 | Principle 1 – Contribution to Climate Security & Sustainable

Development

4.1.1 | Project shall mandatorily contribute to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and two other
SDGs. It is recommended to include a contribution to SDG 7 (Affordable and
Clean Energy) as one of the other 2 SDGs.

4.2 | Principle 2 – Safeguarding Principles

4.2.1 | Project developers shall conduct a Safeguarding Principles Assessment and

conform to the Safeguarding Principles & Requirements.

4.3 | Principle 3 – Stakeholder Inclusivity

4.3.1 | Projects shall identify and engage relevant stakeholders and seek expert
stakeholder input where necessary in the design, planning and
implementation. Specific stakeholder consultation requirements for
hydropower, renewable biomass, MSW incineration projects are outlined in
Annex A of this document.

4.4 | Principle 4 – Demonstration of Real Outcomes

4.4.1 | The project start date shall be determined as per paragraph 4.1.39 of
Principles & Requirements.
4.4.2 | Projects may receive Issuance of Certified Impact Statements or Products for
a maximum of three Certification Renewal Cycles i.e., a total of 15 years,
unless mentioned otherwise in the Product Requirements.
4.4.3 | Projects shall mandatorily undergo Design Certification Renewal every 5 years
as per Principles & Requirements.
4.4.4 | The baseline shall be reassessed at the time of Crediting Period Renewal
following the applicable methodology and Principles & Requirements.

4.5 | Principle 5 – Financial Additionality & Ongoing Financial Need

4.5.1 | Projects seeking the issuance of Certified Impact Statements or Products (for
example GS VERs) shall demonstrate financial additionality and Ongoing
Financial Need in accordance with Principles & Requirements unless
mentioned otherwise in the Product Requirements.
4.5.2 | Project and VPAs, where applicable may refer to valid CDM Tool 32:
Methodological tool: Positive list of technologies to demonstrate additionality.
Under no circumstances should deemed automatic additionality conditions
imply an exemption from the Gold Standard eligibility criteria related to the
technology types.
4.5.3 | Projects and VPAs shall meet prior consideration requirements in accordance
with paragraph 4.1.49 and 4.1.50 of Principles & Requirements.
4.5.4 | An eligible Microscale project that meets any one of the criteria below shall be
deemed additional:

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a. The project is located14

i. In a Least Developed Country (LDC), Small Island Developing States
(SIDS) or Land Locked Developing Country (LLDC) or in a special
underdeveloped zone (SUZ)15 of the Host Country. OR
ii. In a host country or part of the host country different from those
defined above, provided that the Project Developer can demonstrate
that project implementation will essentially benefit poor
communities16. The Project Developer shall seek approval from Gold
Standard providing a detailed description as to how the activity will
benefit poor communities.
b. The project is supplying electricity to regional or national grid; however,
convincing evidence can be provided to demonstrate that project
implementation will significantly improve access to electricity for the local
communities, households or SMEs.
c. The project involves the installation of Solar Photovoltaic and Solar
Thermal electricity generation, off-shore wind, marine technology,
household rooftop wind turbine of size up to 100 kW or biomass integrated
gasification combined cycle.
d. Other renewable energy technologies or measures for which the CDM EB
has adopted the host country recommendation 17. The end date of the
validity shall be before the time of first submission to Gold Standard OR
approved by The Gold Standard as part of positive list.
4.5.5 | In case the deemed additionality criteria are also valid at the time of Renewal
of Crediting Period, the Ongoing Financial Needs assessment is deemed to be
met unless otherwise stated in product requirements.

14
Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries,
Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States <
https://www.un.org/ohrlls/>

15
Refer to SUZ definition & applicable criteria – paragraph 8 (a) of CDM
Methodological tool for Demonstrating additionality of microscale project
activities or latest version of this tool.

16
“Communities” of consumers may for example include households;
Applications may include lighting (interior, public street lighting),
electrical appliances such as refrigerators. No specific definition of ‘poor
communities’ is pre-established. The international or national definitions
such as populations below poverty line can serve as the basis to assess
the eligibility of the targeted communities.

17
https://cdm.unfccc.int/DNA/submissions/index.html

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ANNEX A – ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR

SPECIFIC PROJECT TYPES
Annex A outlines the additional eligibility criteria for project types that involve specific
renewable energy technology.

1| TECHNOLOGY SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1.1 | Hydropower project activity

1.1.1 | The Gold Standard will evaluate the eligibility of hydropower activities with an
installed capacity greater than 20 MW on a case-by-case basis at the time of
preliminary review. This 20 MW capacity threshold shall apply to each one of
the project activities as part of a bundle, and not to the overall bundle, and to
each CPA/VPA as part of a PoA. The Project Developer shall provide the
following additional information as part of the documentation to be reviewed:
a. A Stakeholder Consultation Report, in accordance with the relevant
Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement Requirements. For project
activities involving existing dams (such as dams built for irrigation
purposes), the stakeholder consultation shall include a site-visit by local
stakeholders taking part in the consultation.
b. A Compliance Report showing that the project is in compliance with the
latest World Commission on Dams (WCD) guidelines18, validated by a VVB.
1.1.2 | Hydropower projects located in High Conservation Values (HCVs) 19 areas shall
NOT be eligible for certification under Gold Standard for the Global Goals
(GS4GG). The Project Developers must assess if the project activity is located
in HCVs area. For such assessment, the Project Developer shall consult with
local government authorities AND refer to existing international sources of
information such as the World Database on protected planets, IUCN, UNEP,
the Ramsar list of wetlands, and the United Nations list of protected areas.
The outcome of the assessment shall be provided with the project
documentation submitted for preliminary review.
1.1.3 | Unless deemed by the Gold Standard as already addressed satisfactorily as
part of an existing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), the
opinion of an independent, relevant expert(s) shall be provided, at a
minimum, on all of the following assessment questions (evidence must be
provided to substantiate the opinion to justify the relevance or non-relevance
of a given assessment question):

18
https://www.irn.org/wcd/

19
Refer to High Conservation Value Resource Network for definition of
High Conservation Value Area. Available at https://hcvnetwork.org/

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Assessment Questions Requirements

a. Are there any competing uses of water The expert opinion must be provided in
resources at the project location, of time for validation and be reflected in
what nature and how severe are they? the Monitoring Plan for verification
along the crediting period.
Convincing evidence must be provided
that the hydropower project does not
divert water from other current users or
if it does, these users are in agreement
with the shift of use.
b. What is the minimum ecological flow The expert opinion shall be provided in
that shall be complied with at any point time for validation.
in time, accounting for the specificities
of local ecosystems and seasonality?

What quality assurance and control

procedures shall be put in place for
appropriate continuous monitoring over
the crediting period?
c. Is the groundwater level seriously The expert opinion shall be provided in
affected by the hydropower project? time for validation.

What quality assurance and control

procedures shall be put in place for
appropriate continuous monitoring over
the crediting period?
d. Is the design of the fish passages and The expert opinion shall be provided in
screens (water intake structure) time for validation.
installed in line with internationally
recognised guidance?
Are these measures indeed effective The expert opinion shall be provided in
over the crediting period, and if not, time for verification.
what shall be done to improve the
situation?
e. What sediment management plan shall The expert opinion shall be provided in
be considered? time for validation.

Is it indeed effective over the crediting The expert opinion shall be provided in
period, and if not, how shall it be time for verification.
improved?
f. What mitigation measures shall be put The expert opinion shall be provided in
in place to prevent soil erosion? time for validation.

Are they effective and if not, what The expert opinion shall be provided in
complementary action shall be taken? time for verification.

1.1.4 | Besides the assessment questions listed above, the expert(s) is free to include
any other issue that they identify as being relevant to the project. The Gold
Standard, Project Representative(s) and the independent expert shall enter

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into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) within the context of

the requirements prescribed in paragraph 1.1.3 (Annex A) above. The Project
Developers have the opportunity to provide their views on the identified
issues and their relevance as part of the report to be delivered by the expert.
For regular cycle projects, the independent expert(s) shall be invited to the
Stakeholder Consultation and will identify the list of issues for which an
independent expert opinion will be needed on time for validation and/or
verification.
1.1.5 | The list of assessment areas for potential issues are subject to approval by
Gold Standard as part of the review of the stakeholder consultation report.
For retroactive projects, a Detailed Preliminary Review (Pathway 2 as per
Principles and Requirements) shall be conducted. Independent expert(s) shall
be contracted on time to deliver, as part of the documentation submitted for
preliminary review, the list of assessment areas for which an independent
expert opinion will be needed on time for validation and/or verification. This
list is reviewed and potentially approved by Gold Standard as part of the
preliminary review.
1.1.6 | Project Developer shall plan for and conduct a one-day training for the
hydropower plant staff on the different issues identified by the independent
expert. This training shall be included in the Monitoring & Reporting Plan.

1.2 | Project activity using biomass resources

1.2.1 | Project activities making use of non-renewable biomass resources shall NOT
be eligible for Gold Standard registration. Project developers shall, therefore,
provide convincing evidence that the project activities make use of renewable
biomass resources. The renewability of the biomass shall be monitored
throughout the crediting period and be included in the Monitoring & Reporting
Plan, where required by the applied Impact quantification methodology.
1.2.2 | Project activities expected to make use of biomass resources already in use
shall NOT be eligible for Gold Standard registration unless convincing
evidence is provided to demonstrate that the current users agree with the
envisioned shift of use (potential leakage associated to such a shift must be
taken into account). In the absence of such an agreement, Project Developers
shall demonstrate that their project activity makes use of surplus biomass 20
for each type of biomass resources used. They must do so once, ex-ante on

20
The demonstration of surplus biomass (for each type of biomass resource) shall be made by
the Project Developers by applying the latest version of the CDM Methodological Tool: Project
and leakage emissions from biomass.

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time for validation for small-scale project activities (installed capacity upto 15
MWel or 45 MWth), and in time for validation and for each one of the
verifications (inclusion in the Monitoring Plan) for project activities greater
than 15 MWel or 45 MWth.
1.2.3 | Project Developers shall demonstrate that their project will only make use of
degraded land and shall include this criterion in the Sustainability Monitoring
Plan to ensure there is no diversion of land from other essential purposes like
food production. Two exceptions may be considered:
a. Convincing evidence is provided showing that the envisioned energy crop
is part of a traditional rotational cropping, OR
b. An increase of the productivity is obtained, locally and to the benefit of
the current users, through measures implemented in the context of the
activity so as to at minimum compensate for the part of the land newly
allocated to growing the energy crop.
Compliance with these criteria above must be monitored over the crediting
period and thus be part of the Monitoring & Reporting Plan.
1.2.4 | Activities making use of GMOs shall also comply with the requirements
prescribed in ’Principle 9.3 - Genetic Resources‘ of the Safeguarding Principles
and Requirements.
1.2.5 | Activities resulting in avoidance of methane from biomass decay shall be
eligible as long as biomass is used as a substitution for non-renewable fuels in
project activities delivering energy services or for the production of a usable
product with demonstrable sustainable development benefits (e.g.
composting).
1.2.6 | The use of non-renewable fuel in biomass heat and/or electricity generation
plants is authorised as long as the renewable fuel share reaches 50% 21 after
the first 3 years of operation for retrofit projects, and represents 80% 22 from
the outset for Greenfield projects.
1.2.7 | The eligibility of project activities making use of Palm oil and/or palm oil mill
by-products or residues for electricity and/or heat generation, and/or for
biofuel production shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by Gold

21
Refers to the percentage of the total fuel consumed on an annual energy basis.

22
The reference date for the 3-year period is the start date of crediting period.

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Standard, at the time of preliminary review. The Project Developers shall

provide the following on top of the usual project documentation:
a. A Stakeholder Consultation Report, in accordance with Stakeholder
Consultation and Engagement Requirements, and provided as part of the
documentation to be reviewed at the time of the preliminary review.
b. A Compliance Report showing that the project is in compliance with the
latest version of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
guidance document on Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil
Production23 (including the national interpretations), validated by a GS
VVB, and provided as part of the documentation to be reviewed at the
time of the registration review. Project Developers must demonstrate
that they have started the process for RSPO compliance at the time of
preliminary review. If the project is located in a country where a national
interpretation of the RSPO principles has not been established and
approved by the RSPO, compliance shall be established against the
international RSPO Criteria. In such a case, the certification body must
develop local indicators through a consultative process, available in the
local language.

1.3 | Project activity using Biogas (landfill gas and biogas from agro-
processing, wastewater and other residues)

1.3.1 | Methane recovery project activities shall be eligible for emission reductions
from both methane avoidance (including from the flared biogas fraction) and
non-renewable fuel substitution as long as evidence is provided on time for
validation to demonstrate that the system was designed in a way to at least
make use of some of the biogas recovered for the delivery of energy services
(e.g., electricity, heat).
1.3.2 | Methane recovery project activities at wastewater treatment plants related to
Palm Oil production shall comply with all the Palm Oil related rules mentioned
above (paragraph 1.2.7 |above).

1.4 | Project activity using Waster Heat/Gas recovery

1.4.1 | Project activities involving waste heat recovery in industrial processes shall be
eligible for emission reductions related to on-site energy consumption.
Emission reductions related to the export of heat or electricity generated from
waste heat shall NOT be eligible unless it can be shown that the primary and
unique source of energy for the industrial process is renewable energy. This
requirement applies on an annual basis and the electricity generation profile

23
RSPO Website http://www.rspo.org

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Renewable Energy activity requirements v1.4

does not have to necessarily match the on-site demand profile on an

instantaneous basis.
1.4.2 | Project activities involving waste gases recovery and use in industrial
processes shall be eligible for emission reductions related to on-site energy
consumption. Emission reductions related to the export of heat or electricity
generated from the waste gases recovered shall NOT be eligible unless it can
be shown that the primary and unique source of energy for the industrial
process is renewable energy. This requirement applies on an annual basis and
the electricity generation profile does not have to necessarily match the on-
site demand profile on an instantaneous basis. Emissions from the combustion
of the recovered gases shall, of course, be taken into account in the
calculation of project emissions.

1.5 | Fossil co-generation

1.5.1 | Fossil-fired co-generation project activities shall be eligible for emission

reductions from end-use energy efficiency improvements, i.e., related to on-
site energy consumption. Emission reductions related to the export of heat or
electricity generated from the waste heat recovered shall NOT be eligible. This
requirement applies on an annual basis and the electricity generation profile
does not have to necessarily match the on-site demand profile on an
instantaneous basis.

1.6 | Waste incineration and gasification

1.6.1 | Eligible Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) incineration activities seeking Gold
Standard certification shall also meet the following requirements:

a. Stakeholder consultation: The Project Developer shall ensure

meaningful, effective and informed participation from stakeholder groups
such as local communities who are living in nearby area and may be
impacted adversely or positively by the project. The Project Developer
shall carry out the stakeholder consultation(s) following the Stakeholder
Consultation and Engagement Requirements.

b. Project Eligibility:

i. The project shall involve energy generation (electricity and/or heat)

from MSW incineration. The MSW incineration shall be considered as
recovery operations concerning the waste hierarchy as long as the
project activity recovers energy from municipal waste incineration in
an efficient way.

ii. Project activities planning to make use of waste materials that are
already in use in the pre-project situation shall NOT be eligible unless
convincing evidence is provided to show that the current users agree
with the shift of use resulting from the project. In the absence of such
an agreement, the Project Developers shall demonstrate that the

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Renewable Energy activity requirements v1.4

project activity makes use of surplus waste materials 24 and shall

include this analysis in the Monitoring & Reporting Plan. They must be
done as follows for projects with installed energy generation
capacities of:

- less than or equal to 15 MWel or 45 MWth – once, ex ante, in time

for validation
- greater than 15 MWel or 45 MWth – once, ex ante in time for
validation and each verification

iii. The project shall develop and implement a waste management

awareness programme to encourage stakeholders to adopt best
practices for waste reduction, reuse and recycling and avoid any
negative impact on prevailing waste management practices in the
project boundary. Such a programme may include a variety of
activities, such as– community outreach and education campaigns,
educational campaigns via local schools and other institutes,
educational displays, television/radio campaigns, etc.

iv. The programme performance shall be evaluated frequently, at

minimum biennially following the date of design certification, to
assess its effectiveness and it shall be amended when required.

c. Emissions and operational requirements:

i. To avoid any potential negative impact, the project seeking

certification under Gold Standard for the Global Goals shall meet the
most stringent regulatory requirements available for emissions and
operation of MSW incineration plant. In this regard, the Project
Developer shall compare the host country regulatory requirements
with the most recent version of European Union Regulations for Waste
Incineration Plants & Waste Co-incineration Plants and shall submit
the comparison table for Gold Standard review at the time of
preliminary review. If, due to the type of technology or otherwise, it is
not feasible to meet the most stringent regulatory requirements, the
Project Developer shall submit the rationale and proposed mitigation
measures at the time of preliminary review. In such cases, Gold
Standard will make a decision in consultation with the experts (if
required) on a case-by-case basis.

ii. The Project Developer shall put into place measures to ensure
compliance with host country or other applicable regulations.

24
The demonstration of surplus waste materials shall be made by the project developer by
following the approach prescribed for demonstrating surplus biomass in the latest version of
the CDM Methodological Tool: Project and leakage emissions from biomass.

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Renewable Energy activity requirements v1.4

iii. Where the Project Developer becomes aware that a requirement of

the applicable regulations has been breached or is being breached,
the Project Developer shall:

- Inform the Gold Standard immediately

- Immediately take the measures necessary to ensure compliance

is restored within the shortest possible time

iv. Where a breach of the applicable regulations poses an immediate

danger to human health or threatens to cause an immediate
significant adverse effect upon the environment, the project shall be
withdrawn from Gold Standard until compliance is restored to the
satisfaction of Gold Standard.

d. Ongoing monitoring requirements

i. The Project Developer shall report on compliance status with regards

to regulatory requirements within six months of the operational start
date, where applicable, and annually after the first reporting.

ii. The Project Developer shall include the relevant information in the
Annual Report, as required under Gold Standard for the Global Goals.

1.7 | Waste handling and disposal

1.7.1 | Project activities planning to make use of waste materials that are already in
use in the pre-project situation shall NOT be eligible unless convincing
evidence is provided to show that the current users are in agreement with the
shift of use resulting from the project. In the absence of such an agreement,
the Project Developers shall demonstrate that the project activity makes use
of surplus waste materials 25 and shall include this analysis in the
Sustainability Monitoring Plan. They must do so once, ex-ante on time for
validation for small-scale projects (installed capacity upto 15 MWel or 45
MWth), and in time for validation and for each one of the verifications
(inclusion in the Sustainability Monitoring Plan) for projects greater than 15
MWel or 45 MWth.

25
The demonstration of surplus waste materials shall be made by the project developer by
following the approach prescribed for demonstrating surplus biomass in the latest version of
the CDM Methodological Tool: Project and leakage emissions from biomass.

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DOCUMENT HISTORY

Version Date Description

a. Revision of the document template
b. Specifying the eligibility of Renewable Energy
projects located in countries that coincide with
1.4 16/08/2021 the (geographical and economical) classifications
specified in paragraphs 2.1.3 (a) and (b) of this
document.
c. Making editorial improvements
a. Revision of the document template
b. Incorporating the following two Rule Updates
into the document:
i. Eligibility Requirements for Renewable
Energy Projects Transitioning to or
Seeking Labelling Under GS4GG (RU 2020
AR – RE V1.2)
1.3 14/01/2021
ii. Eligibility Requirements for Renewable
Energy POAs (RU 2020 AR - RE V1.2)
c. Providing specific approval criteria for distributed
installations of renewable technologies
d. Providing additional guidance and criteria on
project scales
e. Making editorial improvements
a. Revision of the document template
b. Providing geographic location & economic status
based eligibility criteria for grid connected RE
projects (addition of paragraph 2.1.3) and
1.2 23/10/2019 related exceptions (as para 2.1.4)
c. Revising Annex-A to provide additional guidance
and criteria on specific Renewable Energy
project types
d. Making editorial improvements
a. Revision of the document template
1.1 01/03/2018
b. Making editorial improvements
1.0 01/07/2017 Initial adoption

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